Spark-plug.



C H. BRASELTON & F. M. CARROLL.

SPARK PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I8| ms.

Patented June 18, 1918.

ATTORNEY CHESTER H. BBASELTON, 01" DETROIT, MICHIGAN, m REED I. CARROLL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOBS TO WOLVEBINE SPARK PLUG, COHPLNY, 1110., OF DETROIT, HICHIGU, A. COBP EATION OF NEW'YOBK, (INCORPORATED m 1918.)

crux-rum.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Cinema H. Banana- TON and FRED M. CARROLL, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit -i.n the count of Wa' e and State of Michigan, and ew Yor ,county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Spark- Plugs", of which the ollowin'g is a specification.

This invention relates to spark plugs for internal combustion engines and more particularly to spark In of the 'uickl detachable type in w ie the ins ator 1s'removable'wlthout the use of a wrench or other tool. This a plication isfiled as a division of our pen mg a plication, Serial No. 857,113, filed August 1 @1914. I k The principal object of this invention was to provide such connections between the insulator and the member in which it is to seat and such fastening "means for lockin the insulator to its seat to permit 0% the quick detachment andemoval of theinsulator without the use of any tools. Another object of our invention was to provide IIIBQHS WhlOIl, while permitting the quick -removal. and detachment of the insulator,

gas from the engine c lock the insulator efl'ectively in lace in its seat, forming an eflicient as-tig t joint between the' insulator an the member in which it seats so as to revent leakage of inder when under compression. Still anot or object of our invention was to rovide fastening means of a somewhat yielding'or resilient nature so as to yield somewhat, in service, to take up the variations in the difierent parts which may occur in making them in quantities .while, at the same time, looking the insulator efl'ectively to its seat. I

Further objects, and'objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitel appear from the detailed description to ollow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention bythe devices and means described in the following specification; The, invention is clearly defined and pointed-out the claims. l Structures constituting prefened em odiments of our invention are clearly u? Specification of Latter: Patent.

Original application filed August 17, 1914, Serial No. 857,118. Divided and this v 1816. Berta] Io. 116,678.

Patented June 18, lub.

application med August 18,

' -Fig. III is a' perspectivc view or the bush- 'g. IV is a view of another form of lug, showing it half in section and half in e evar tion.

Fig. V is a view, partly in section, of another form of plug in which the fastening member engages an annular shoulder on the insulator. a p i Fig. V1 is a view of a modified fornLof fastenin member. 1

Fig. I is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. VI.

In the drawings, similar'reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the (several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, the bushing 1 has a lower externally threaded portion 2 andan upper por tion 3 which is preferably of non-circular cross section so as receive awrench or, similar tool. The shing has an axial opening therethrough which the spark plug insulator isd1sposeti and [an internal upwardly facing shoulder 4 on which the external, downwardly facing shoulder 5 of the insulator seats. At diametrically opposite points in the upper portion 3 of the bushing, there are Provided L-shaped slots 6, the upper edge 0 the horizontal parts of said slots being inclined downwardly from .the vertical portions-for a will appear hereinafter.

The insulator 7 g has .the] external, downwardl facing shoulder 5, already mentione ,and, above the latter, the upwardlyfacin'gshoulder 8. The ring 9 is 10 0;

around the in'sulatorj r intgon the calder 8,ithe-outer d1 aiiieter f" e rmg 9 being p f l i' l$ j f the P q "oftliefinsulafior between shoulders 6 and 8,.

purpose which 96 so that the ring is disposed between the body of the insulator and the upperpart of the bushing. The ring 9 has at its upper edge a thin flange or tin 10 which may be crimpeil or spun on to the body of the insulator to fasten the ring thereto. The fastening member or bail 11, has the inwardly turned bearing portions 12 and the offset or eccentric portions 13. Diametrically opposite openings 14 are provided in the rin 9, said openings being preferably counterIJored and receiving the eccentric portions 13 of the bail. Then the parts are assembled together, the hearing portions 12 of the bail have hearings in the horizontal parts of the slots 6, fulcruming against the upper wall of this part of the slot. Since this upper wall is inclined, by fulcruining the bearing portions against different parts thereof, the fastening member will have its bearings at different vertical distances above the seat in the bushing. This provides for the slight variance in parts which may occur in manufacture.

The insulator 7 preferabl carries both electrodes, the central electro e 15 extending longitudinally through the insulator ant connecting with the terminal cap at the upper end. The second electrode 16 extends from the lower end of the insulator, at one side of the center, to the shoulder 8 where it makes electrical connection with the ring 9 and through said ring and the fastening member 11 with the bushing.

In Fig. IV, we have shown another form of our invention in which the insulator -7 has a peripheral groove 17, at diametrically opposite points in the bottom of which are provided the openings 18 in which are inserted the sleeves 1 9. The eccentric cam portions 13 of the fastening member 11 are disposed in said sleeves and the bearing portions 12 fulcrum in the slots in the bushing,

"as in the previously described form, and,

when the fastening member is rotated, the cam portions exert pressure on the insulator. through the intermediate sleeves 19, to lock the insulator to its seat. The second electrode 16 extends upwardly from the lower end of the insulator and makes elec trical connection with one of the sleeves 19 and, through the sleeve 19 and the fastening member 11, with the bushing.

In Fig. V, we have shown another form of our invent-ipn in which the ring 9 is omitted and the offset cam portions 13 of the bail 11 act directly on the annular upwardly-facing shoulder 8 of the insulator. In this form, the bail 11 is not carried by the insulator but in removing the insulator the bail is removed independently. In this form, \vii'have shown the second electrmlc 20 carried by the lower edge of thebushing. Th's electrode might be carried by the electrode, in this form as well as in the other forms, in which case the upper end of the electrode would be so located as to make electrical connection with the bushing or the bail 11.

In Figs. VI and VII, we have shown a slightly modified form of fastening member. The fastening member 21 is made of stock of elliptical cross section and the inwardlytnrned portions 22 are twisted through an angle of about forty-five degrees so that the major axis of the elliptical cross-sec tion stands at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the body of the bail 21. The action of the twisted portions is similar to the action of the eccentric portions shown in the other forms and, when the bail is rotated, the insulator is 'cammed to its seat.

In all of these forms, we preferably make the bail or fastening member of spring stock and, since there is a substantial space between the fulcrum points and the bearor the insulator in Fig. V, the fastening member will exert a yielding pressure to yieldingly force the insulator to its seat. This serves to take up the slight variations in the dimensions of parts and the slight inaccuracies in the seat which may sometimes occur in manufacture. It also serves to prevent injury to the insulator due to the use of too much force in rotating the bail. t It is also worthy of note that the bail works with an increasing mechanical advantage due to the resilient nature of the stock used.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation should be very readily understood. In the form shown in Figs. I and II, the insulator 7, carrying the ring 9 and the bail 11, with the bail in a substantially vertical position, is inserted oin the axial opening in the bushing until the insulator rests on its seat in the bushing. The bearing portions 12 of the bail enter the vertical portions of the slots 3 and a slight turn is then given to the insulator bringing the portions 12 of the bail into the horizontal portions of the slots 6. The fastening member 11 is then rotated through substantially 135 and, since the hen ring portions 12 fulcrum in the slot, the eccentric portions 13, which are disposed in the openings 14 in the ring- 9, exert a yielding pressure on the ring, and through the ring on the insulator to loclrthe insulator to its seat.

The operation of the form shown in Fig. IV is the same except that the fastening member acts on the insulator through the sleeves 19 instead of through the ring 9.

In the form shown in Fig. V, the operation is similar but the bail acts directly on the annular upwardly-fnringshonlder8. In this form, the bail is rrlnovablc lllll(|)l'll(l' cntly of the insulator s nce it is not carried thereby.

In the forms shown in l igs. l and II, the

ing points on the intermediate ring or sleeve,

fl d l ily inthe form shown in I horizonta' said shoulder; and a resilient fastening i tend shoulder; and

, bail is normally removable with the insula-- ",514 inthe ring 9.

the ends' of the bail can be removed from the sleeves'lm. i a

We'haveshown the insulator seating in a bushing adaptedto screw into an engine casingjbut this is not'essential to our invention as tl iinsulatormight seat in any role,- ,-tively fixed member provided that relatively fixed bearings are provided for the bail. For the insulator tnight seat dlrectl ii'jintheenginej casing. l a

In tlieforms shown in Figs. I to IV, the ":bail' 'doesnot exert pressure directly on' the insulator but acts through an intermediate member'brjmenibers. In Fig.1, thisintermediate member is the ring 9 and, in Fig. IV, the intermediate members are the sleeves 19.5; have shown the ringBas se- 'cu'red tothe insulator by"crimping or spinning it thereon but this is not absolutely essential ashtlie ring may simply rest on the upwardly-facing shoulder 8. In the forms shown in Rig I, II and V, the bail ll. acts on an annular upwardly-facing shoulder on the insulator. In Fig. I, the bail acts through the ring 9 while, in Fig. V; it acts directly on the shoulder. q

We are aware that the particular embodimer ts of our invention are susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of our invention and, there store, we do not wish to be limited to these embodiments except as required by the appended claims. '40

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, 'a

'1. In a spark lug, the combination of a bushing, provided with diametrically opposite L-sha ed slots, the upper walls 0f thc ortions of said slots being downwardly inclined; an electrodecarrying in'sulator adapted to removably seat in said bushing, said insulator having an annular upwardly-facing shoulder; a ringresting on member straddling said plug and having inwardly turned ends, adapted to have bearings in said slots, and eccentric portions dis- 55 posed inndiametrically opposite openings in is a ,v In a spal'k plug, the combination of a bushing, provided with diametrically oppoa L-shaped slots; an electrodecarrying nsulator adapted to removably seat in said ush-ing. said insulator having an annular pwardly-tacing shoulder; a ring resting on i'nem'ber straddling apartsufl iciently. to remove them from the desire to secure by LettersPatents, is:

n resilient fastening; 3 said plug and l n j jm iw i turned ends, a p a; hav bear ings in said slots, and eccentric portions di sposed in diametrically opposite openings in said ring. y r

-3. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing, provided with diametrically OPPO,

site L sha ed slots; an electrode-carrying insula'tor a apted to removabl seat in said bushing; a ring carried by saidbushing and provided with diametrically opposite openlugs; and a resilient fastening member hayinginwfardly turned ends-adapted to bear in said slots and eccentric portions disposed in the openings in said ring, said fastening member being rotatable whereby a yielding pressure will be exerted on said insulator through said ring to loclr'the insulator to its seat, a I

4. In a'spark plug, the combination of a bushing, site L-sha ed slots; an electrode-carrying in sulator a apted to removably seat therein provided with diametrically oppo and provided with an annular, upwardly facing-shoulder; and a resilient, rotatable fastening-member having inwardly turned ends adapted to bear in said slots and eccen tric portions adapted to exert a yielding pressure on said shoulder on the insulator to lock it to its seat when'the fastening memher is rotated.

5.In a spark plug, the combination of a relatively fixed member; an electrode carry ing insulator adapted to removably seat therein; and a rotatable fastening member having inwardly-turned ends adapted to bear on said fixed member, said fastening member being of non-circular cross-section and the ends of said member being twisted, said twisted portions being adapted to exert pressure on the insulator to lock it tof its seat when the fastening member is rotated.

6. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate'member adapted to engage the in-v sulator; and a fastening member having alined, inwardly-turned ends for cooperating with the bushing and theintermediatc member to fasten the insulator to its seat in 1 the bushing when the fastening memberis rotated about the axis of the inwardlyturned portions. y

7. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an' 'electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to engage the insulator; alined, inwardly said ends b'eing rotation of thelfasteningmemberthan are other portions whereby,'when the fastening me er is. rot t about' :niei-iaxi ;oi the areal; l

ms e dsi it sie ire th tlie bushing and the "interw are r (mediate me i the insulator will be forced "to its an inthe-bushing. z a

and a fastening member rhaving turned ends, a portion of farther from the axis of,

r 'ions in 8. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrodecarrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member having a pluralit of projections extending over portions 0 said intermediate mem er and adapted, when the fastening member is rotated about bearing surfaces on the bushing and about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plug, toforce the insulator against its seat in the bushing.

9. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an inter mediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member having a plurality of projections extending over portions of said intermediate member and adapted, when the fastening member isrotated about a plurality of diametrically opposite bearing surfaces on the bushing and about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plug, to force the insulator against its seat.

10. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member having separated ortions adapted to project between the busiiing and the in termediate member at peripherally separated points, said portions being so constructed that rotation of the fastening member about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plu will cause relative movement between the intermediate member and the bushing to force the insulator against its seat in the bushing.

11. In a spark plug, the combination of a hollow bushing having an internal seat and provided with peripherallfl separated bearing surfaces, points of whic are greater distances from said scat than are other points; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat in said bushing; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member provided with inwardly-turned ends, portions of which are adapted to bear upon the said bearing surfaces in the bushing and other portions of which are adapted to project over and bear upon the intermediate member to force the insulator to its seat in the bushing when the fastening member is rotated about the inwardlylturned ends.

12. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode-carrying insulator ada ted to removabl y seat therein; an intermet iate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a yielding fastening member having separated portions adapted to project between the bushing and the intermediate member at peripherally separated points, said portions being so 0011- structed that rotation of the fastening memher about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plug will cause relative movement between the insulator and intermediate member to force the insulator against its seat in the bushing.

13. In a spark plug, the combination of an electrode-carryin insulator; a bushin hav-' in bearing openings and a seat for t e inso ator; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to the insulator, and a fastening member having inwardly turned yielding ends cooperating with the bearing openings and the intermediate member for attaching the insulator to the seat in the bushing when the ends are rotated by movement of the fastening member.

14. In a spark plug, the combination of an insulator; a bushin having diametrically opposite bearings an an internal seat for the insulator; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member comprising two portions to be interposed between the bearings and the intermediate member and then rotated by movement of the fastening member, said portions being so constructed as when rotated to yieldingly hold the insulator against its seat.

15. In a spark plug, the combination of an electrode-carrying insulator; a bushing having diametrically opposite bearing openings' and an internal seat for the insulator; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to the insulator; and a fastening member having inwardly-turned ends rotatable in the aforesaid bearings and formed to cooperate with the intermediate member to yieldingly hold the insulator against its seat in the bushing when the fastening member is moved to a certain position.

16. In a spark plu the combination of a relative] fixed mem er havin a seat and an opening; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to pass into the opening and against the seat; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to the insulator; and a single, manipulatively operable, yielding pressure applying element cooperating with the intermediate member to force the insulator against its seat in the fixed member and hold it there in opposition to pressure exerted from the engine chamber when the plug is in use inthe same,

' 17. A spark plug comprising a fixed member having an opening and a seat for an insulator; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to pass into the opening and a ainst the seat; an intermediate member a apted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a fastening member manually 'operable to exert a yielding pressure on said intermediate member to force the insulator against its seat in the fixed member.

18. In a spark plug, the combination of a. bushing; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a rotatable, yielding, pressure applying means adapted to rotate about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the insulator in cooperation with the intermediate member and the bushing to force the insulator to its seat in the bushing.

19. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode-carryin adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a rotatable, resilient member cooperating with the intermediate member and the bushing and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the insulator and on a line that will pass through the projected transverse area of the insulator, said resilient member serving when rotated to force the insulator against its seat.

20. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrode'carrying insulator ada )ted to removably seat therein; an intermerliate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a crank-like resi ient member rotatably engaging with the bushing and intermediate member and Servving, when rotated, to force the insulator against its seat and hold it there by reason of the crank-like member assuming a substantially dead center relationship between the bushing. 1

21. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; an electrodmcarrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulatorfand'a resilient member rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of the )lug and fuleruming against the bushin r and acting against the irtermediate mem er in substantially alining but oppositely directed lines of action passi throu h points close to the fulcrum poi] where y the moment of force tending to rotate the rotatable member will be too small to overcome the frictional resistance against the resilient rotatable member.

22. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushing; adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a-camhke, yieldinsulator intermediate member and the an electrode-carryin g insulator ing fastening member adapted to be rotate to apply a gradually increasing yielding pressure to the intermediate member to force the insulator against its seat.

23. In a spark plug, the combination of a bushin an electrode-(arming insulator ada ted to removably seat therein; an interme iate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a yielding, fastening means enga 'ng said intermediate menr.

her and manua ly manipulative to apply a [yielding pressure to force the insulator against its seat.

24. In a spark plug, the combination of a relatively fixed member; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit. pressure to said insulator; and an element carried by said intermediate member and movable therewith into cooperative relationship with said fixed member and adapted to be otated about an axis transverse to the axis of the insulator to apply pressure to .lock it to its seat.

25. In a spark plug, the combination of a. relatively fixed member; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably seat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and a therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said Insulator; and a single element rotatable about an axis transverse to the axis of, the insulator to apply a yielding ressure to the intermediate member to loc the insulator to its seat.

27. In a spark plug, the combination of a relatively fixed member; an electrode-carrying insulator adapted to removably scat therein; an intermediate member adapted to transmit pressure to said insulator; and an element rotatable about an axis transverse to the axis of the insulator and operable with an increasing mechanical advantage to apply pressure tosaid intermediate member to lork the insulator to its seat.

In witness whereot, we have hereunto set our ha lids.-

CHES'IER H. BRASELTON FRED M. CARROLL. 

